Astigmatism Surgery

Published on March 11, 2011

LASIK Surgery
If you have astigmatism, you may be a candidate for LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) surgery. Lasik is a type of refractive surgery. In people with astigmatism, it works by reshaping the misshaped cornea.

Whether LASIK will work for you depends on the type of astigmatism you have. Your opthalmologist can determine whether LASIK is right for you.

PRK Surgery
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a type of laser surgery for astigmatism that is used to reshape the cornea with ultraviolet light. It is less commonly used now that LASIK is the most common type of surgery used for astigmatism.

AK Surgery
AK (astigmatic keratotomy) is a surgical procedure for astigmatism that does not use a laser. The surgeon makes incisions in the cornea in order to reshape it.